PRIEST: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
READER: Amen. Glory to You, our God, glory to You.
O Heavenly King, Consoler, Spirit of Truth, present in all places and filling all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life: come and dwell in us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O Good One!
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3X)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and forever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive us our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, look upon us and heal our infirmities for Your name's sake.
Lord have mercy. (3X)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and forever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
PRIEST: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory; of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
READER: Amen. Lord have mercy. (12X)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and forever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship God our King.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ our King and God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God.
Psalm 51 (50)
1) Have mercy on me, O God, in your kindness; in your great tenderness, wipe out my sin. 2) Over and over again, cleanse me of all malice; from my fault purify me.
3) For my sin is only too clear to me; my sin is ever before me. 4) Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your eyes, this I have done. You are just when you sentence, without reproach when you judge. 5) For in guilt itself was I born; a sinner my mother conceived. 6) But you love truth at the heart of my being; teach me wisdom deep within me.
7) Purify me: I shall be cleaner than spring water; wash me: I shall be whiter than snow. 8) Let me hear the sound of joy and feasting; let them dance, these bones you have crushed. 9) Turn your face away from my sins; cleanse me of all malice.
10) O God, create in me a pure heart, in my belly, a new and constant spirit. 11) Do not banish me from your presence; do not deprive me of your holy spirit. 12) Give me back the joy of your help; insure within me a spirit of fervor,
13) that I may teach sinners your ways, that the misguided may return to you. 14) Rescue me from death, O God, my saving God, and my tongue shall ring out your justice! 15) Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. 16) For you take no delight in sacrifice; were I to make a burnt offering, you would want no part of it. 17) The best sacrifice, a broken spirit; a heart broken and crushed you have never disdained, O God.
18) In your kindness, be good to Sion: Rebuild Jerusalem within its walls! 19) Then you will delight in just sacrifices -- burnt offerings completely consumed! -- then will they lay calves upon your altar!
Psalm 70 (69)
1) Quick, O God! Rescue me! O Lord, help me! 2) Let shame and disgracefall on those who hunt down my soul! Make them back off! Make them recoil in confusion, who gloat at my ruin! 3) Make them draw back, covered with shame, who jeer at me. 4) But for all who seek you, joy and gladness! For those who love your help, let them always say: God is great! 5) As for me -- poor wretch that I am -- O God, hasten to me! O you, my helper, my savior; O Lord, do not delay!
Psalm 143 (142)
1) O Lord, hear my prayer; O God, be true to yourself and listen to my plea for mercy. In your righteousness answer me. 2) Do not call your servant to account, for no one on earth is justified in your sight. 3) O Lord, be generous and grant me life; in your unfailing love rescue my soul from affliction. 4) For the foe hunts after my soul; into the earth he tramples my very life, forcing me into the darkness of those long dead.
5) My spirit faints within me, my heart is numb with despair. 6) My mind goes back to days gone by, dwelling on the memory of all you did, pondering the works of your hands. 7) To you I lift my outstretched hands: Come quick and answer me, O Lord! 8) For my spirit longs for you; like parched earth I thirst for you. 9) Hide not your face from me lest I become like those who go into the pit.
10) Each morning make me understand your loving kindness, for I trust in you. Show me the path to follow, for my heart belongs to you. 11) Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your gracious spirit lead me into the land of life, for your name's sake. 12) Save me from my foes, O Lord, for I seek refuge in you. 13) Wipe out my foes; bring destruction on those who oppress me, for I am your servant.
THE LESSER DOXOLOGY
Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will to men.
--We sing to You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for the splendor of your glory.
--O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty; O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and O Holy Spirit.
--O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us; you who take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
--For you alone are holy; you alone are Lord, O Jesus Christ, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
--Every night will I bless you, and I will praise your Name forever, always, and forever and ever.
--Lord, you have been a refuge for us from age to age.
--I said: O Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
--O Lord, to you do I come for shelter, teach me to obey your will, for you are my God.
--For with you is the fountain of life, in your light shall we see light.
--Extend your mercy upon those who confess you.
--Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin.
--Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is your name for ever. Amen.
--Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in you.
--Blessed are You, O Lord: teach me your statutes.
--Blessed are You, O Master: grant that I may understand your statutes.
--Everlasting is your love, O Lord: turn not away from the work of your hands.
--Indeed, praise, adoration and glory are your due, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.
THE CREED
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, the only-begotten, born of the Father before all ages. Light of light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became man. He was also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And He rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures. And He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, and of His kingdom there will be no end. And in the Holy Spirit the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the Prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I profess one baptism for the remission of sins. I await the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
At this point, a canon is read, being for the Theotokos, from the Oktoechos, or from the Menaion.
And after the canon, the Stichera from Vespers, or from the Praises of Matins if there be any appointed for the Saint.
Then:
It is truly proper to glorify you, who have born God, the ever-blessed, immaculate, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, you, a virgin, gave birth to God, the Word. You, truly the Mother of God, we magnify.
THE MEGALYNARION
It is fitting and right to call you blessed, O Theotokos, the ever-blessed and all-blameless one, and the Mother of our God. O you, higher in honor than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, you gave birth to God the Word in virginity. You are truly Mother of God: you do we exalt!
The Reader recites the Thrice Holy Hymn and its doxology:
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3X)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and forever, and unto the unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.
Lord have mercy. (3X)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and forever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in the Heavens, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
PRIEST: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
READER: Amen.
If the temple is dedicated to the Lord or to the Theotokos:
* the troparion of the temple is said first,
* then the troparion of the day (see below),
* then "O God of our Fathers...", etc.
If the temple is dedicated to a saint:
*the troparion of the day is said first,
*then the troparion of the temple,
*then "O God of our fathers...", etc.
TROPARION OF THE DAY
The Reader immediately says the Troparia (the Typicon books and the local customs vary at this point. The most widely used Troparia are the following:
O God of our Fathers who always deal with us according to your everlasting compassion, do not withdraw your mercy from us, but through the prayers of our Fathers, guide our lives along the ways of peace.
--O Christ God, your Church, crimsoned with the blood of your martyrs all over the world as with a cloak of murex and porphyry, cries out to You: “Send your mercy upon your people, grant peace to your fold, and extend your great compassion upon our souls.”
--Glory be to the Father and to the Sonh and to the Holy Spirit.
--O Christ, with the saints grant rest to the souls of your servants, in a place where there is no pain, no sorrow, no sighing, but everlasting life.
--Now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.
--Through the prayers of all the saints, and of the Mother of God, grant us your peace, O Lord, and have mercy on us, for You alone are merciful.
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On Saturday evenings, the preceding Troparia are replaced by the Hypacoe of the Resurrection, except when the following Sunday coincides with a Feast of our Lord that supersedes the Office of the Resurrection, or during the periods of the Triodion and Pentecostarion, at which the proper Kontakia are used.
HYPACOE OF THE RESURRECTION
Mary and her companions went forth before dawn: they found the stone rolled away from the tomb and heard the Angel say: “Why do you seek Him as a man among the dead, He who is in eternal splendor? Behold, the burial cloth is folded. Hasten, and proclaim to the world that the Lord is risen and has trampled death, for He is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind.”
On the eve of the Feasts of the Mother of God, on the feast days of our Lord, during their octaves, on their leave-taking, and on some other special Feasts, these Troparia are replaced by the proper Kontakon of the Feast.
On Fridays, except on the first five Fridays of Great Lent and on the eve of the Saturday of the Dead, these Troparia are replaced by the following:
To You, O Lord, Ordainer and Creator of the world, the universe offers the God-bearing martyrs as the first-fruits of nature: wherefore, through their prayers, and through the intercession of the Mother of God, preserve your Church and our country in perfect safety and peace, O You who alone are most merciful.
On the first five Fridays of Great Lent, when the Akathist Hymn is sung, these Troparia are replaced by the Kontakion of the Annunciation.
On the eve of the Saturday of the Dead before Pentecost, these Troparia are omitted entirely. The only Troparion recited is: “O Christ, with the saints, grant rest. . .”
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Reader LORD, HAVE MERCY. (40X)
The Priest extends his hands and prays aloud:
Priest: O Christ our God, at all times and every hour You are worshipped and glorified both in heaven and on earth. You are long-suffering and generous in your mercy and compassion. You love the just and show mercy to the sinner, calling all people to salvation through the promise of blessings to come. Deem, O Lord, at this very hour, to receive our supplications and to direct our lives in the path of your commandments. Sanctify our souls; purify our bodies; set aright our minds; cleanse our thoughts; deliver us from all affliction, trouble and distress; surround us with your holy angels so that, guided and guarded in their camp, we may attain oneness of faith and the knowledge of your unspeakable glory. For You are blessed for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord have mercy. (3X))
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
You are more honorable than the cherubim, beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim! Without stain you bore the Word of God: O Theotokos, we extol you!
People: Bless us, Father (Master), in the Name of the Lord.
Priest: May God be kind to us and bless us; may He smile upon us and have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
The priest goes and stands before the icon of the Mother of God and prays:
O chaste and spotless Lady never touched by blame or corruption or defilement, O Bride of the Most High himself, you brought forth the Word of God into this world in a marvelous and mysterious way, thus uniting Him to us and joining our nature to the divine. You are the only hope of those who have no hope, always ready to come to the aid of every Christian who seeks refuge in you. Though I have often defiled myself with all sorts of impure thoughts, words, and deeds, though slothfulness has enslaved me to lust, though I often find myself weighed down by despair and depression, do not despise me. As the Mother of God, your heart is filled with love and compassion for all mankind. Therefore, pity me in spite of my sinfulness; accept this prayer from these impure lips of mine. With boldness that only a mother could manifest, implore your Son, our Lord and God, to show me his deep and tender mercy. Entreat Him not to regard the numberless times I have fallen, but lead me to true repentance, that as his friend and follower I may always be conscious of his precepts and ever ready to observe them. And you sweet Lady, in your graciousness, stay with me. Take my part at all times. Enable me to repel all temptations, to achieve my eternal salvation. At the moment of my death, embrace and comfort my sorry soul, and drive off the terrifying specters of the evil one. On that awesome day of judgement, save me from everlasting punishment; reveal me as a true heir of that ineffable glory which your Son has promised in his grace and love. To Him, to his eternal Father, and to his all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit is due all glory, honor, and worship, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen.
The priest goes and stands before the icon of Our Lord and prays the:
Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ, by Antiochus the monk
As we prepare for bed, Master, we ask for rest of body and soul, for gentle peaceful sleep free of all nightmares and temptations, free of all disturbing dreams. Arrest the assaults of the powers of darkness, and calm the interior commotion of mind and body. Fill us with your peace that we may not be overcome by the restless fantasies of our imagination. Make our minds aware and alert, quick to discern right and wrong, ever ready and able to foster thoughts conducive to spiritual living. When the time for prayer comes, raise us from bed, and inspire us with strength and determination. Keep us always conscious of your commandments, aware of how You wish us to live, that we may ever sing your glory: praising, blessing, and extolling that magnificent name of yours, which deserves all honor, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen.
The priest, turning to the icon of the Mother of God prays:
O you most glorious, ever-virginal and blessed Mother of God, commend our prayers to your Son, our God, and entreat Him to save our souls through your intercession.
Going before the holy doors, the priest says:
The Father is my hope, the Son my refuge, the Holy Spirit my protection: O All-Holy Trinity, glory to You!
--In You do I place all my hope, O Mother of God: keep me under your protection.
--Glory to You, O Christ God, our hope, Glory to You!
Reader: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen. Lord, have mercy (3X).
Reader: Father (Master), give the blessing in the name of the Lord.
And the priest gives the Dismissal:
Priest: Christ our true God, through the prayers of His all-pure Mother, and the prayers of the glorious Apostles worthy of all praise, and of all the Saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is the Gracious One and the Lover of Mankind.
And the priest and the reader say together:
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
The priest continues:
Priest: Good fathers and brothers! Grant me your blessing and pardon me all the wrongs I have done this day, in word or deed or thought, with all my faculties, with reflection or out of uncontrolled emotion.
People: May God Himself forgive you, Father, and have mercy on you! Bless us, Father, and forgive us the wrongs we have done this day, in word or deed or thought, with each of our faculties, with reflection, or out of uncontrolled emotion.
Priest: Through His grace, may God forgive you also, and may He have mercy on all of you.
And the priest makes the following commemorations:
Let us pray for our Prime Bishop N., for our Bishop N., and for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Chanters: LORD HAVE MERCY.
For those who hate us and for those who love us.
For those who are kind to us and for those who serve us.
For those who have asked us to pray for them, unworthy as we are.
For the imprisoned and all captives.
For those who are absent.
For our fathers and brethren who have passed on before us.
For those who are traveling, whether by sea or land or air.
For the sick, the suffering, the old and the oppressed.
For a good harvest of all the fruits of the earth.
For every Orthodox Christian soul.
For all our fellow Christians.
For our relatives and friends, living and deceased, wherever they may be, especially for N.N.
Let us say for them all.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy. (3X)
Priest: By the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
People: Amen.